The passing of the Anti-Fake News Bill 2018 in Parliament yesterday is a “dark spot” in the history of not just Sarawak but the entire nation, according to Dr Kelvin Yii.

Yii, the special assistant to Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen, said elected representatives have failed to protect our sacred rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

The bill, he added, will also impact on the rights of Sarawakians as spelt out by the state’s founding fathers during the formation of Malaysia.

“According to the Sarawak 18-point agreement that was based upon the Nine Cardinal Principles of the rule of the English Rajah, it is clearly stated that the right of freedom of expression both in speech and in writing shall be permitted and encouraged and that everyone shall be entitled to worship as he pleases.”

“This was the clear intention of our forefathers and such rights should have been heavily protected,” he said.

Yii, who will be standing in Stampin in the 14th general election, pointed out that the Anti-Fake News Bill has been heavily criticised not just by opposition lawmakers, but also civil society groups and media organisations.

These groups believe that once the bill becomes law, it will be used to suppress dissenting voices and censor alternate views.

“While we are for the fight against fake news, we are against any legislation created purely to be used by the ruling government to control the dissemination of news, especially news that makes them uncomfortable, or threatens their position in a democratic society.

“There are already relevant laws that are adequate to deal with the spread of fake news.

“We could have learned from our neighbours down south. The Singapore Parliament had set up a Parliamentary Select Committee on ‘Deliberate Online Falsehoods - Causes, Consequences and Countermeasures’ to obtain feedback through public hearings on ‘online falsehoods’,” he said.

Yii noted that although the measures taken by Singapore have been criticised by various quarters, there was at least a consultative process through public hearings on the matter.

“Here in Malaysia, it was bulldozed through, as it is likely to be used during the upcoming GE14.”

The irony of this, he added, is that although Sarawak United People’s Party president Dr Sim Kui Hian (photo) and BN-friendly United People’s Party reportedly claimed there was no need to rush the bill, all Sarawakian ministers in the cabinet and the 25 BN MPs from the state voted for the passing of the bill.

“It is important to note that Richard Riot Jaem, who is a full minister and part of SUPP, had also voted for the passing of the bill.

“If Sim was serious about his concerns, he had every power to ask Riot to vote against such a bill or push for it to be further debated.

“It could have been raised both in the cabinet meetings and also in Parliament, but he failed to do so at both levels,” he added.